Robben Ford

Here Robben is playing his signature Fender guitar.

Robben Ford is seen playing the Sakashta Noupaul with J.M. Rolph Humbuckers (24 3/4" Scale) during a live performance with Larry Carlton in Switzerland, 2007, as captured in a YouTube video by muzone.

While playing in the Yellowjackets in the late 70's to early 80's, as well as before and after this time period, Robben played a sunburst 1959 dot neck Gibson ES-335. He also used a later period sunburst block neck ES-335 occasionally.

Wikipedia: "While playing with Jimmy Witherspoon, Ford traded the L-5, plus $200, for a Super 400." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robben_Ford#Guitars

Michael Ross, Getting Great Guitar Sounds 2nd edition, page 73: "As a teen playing with blues giant Jimmy Whiterspoon, Robben helped originate what became that smooth, singing L.A. guitar tone by playing a Gibson Super 400 big bodied, archtop, through a Fender Bassman." https://books.google.cz/books?id=CddgbKkAoxYC&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=robben+ford+live+with+jimmy+witherspoon+instruments&source=bl&ots=Xw6bchC9tu&sig=QVZZexgfDwM29eqhyM5zU7iL8jw&hl=cs&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_w9zN4ejWAhWDzxQKHQgTBGsQ6AEIajAN#v=onepage&q=robben%20ford%20live%20with%20jimmy%20witherspoon%20instruments&f=false

You can see Robben Ford playing his 1964 Gibson SG... Here is a short video from robben ford himself showing his Guitar on his official FB page : https://www.facebook.com/RobbenFordOfficial/posts/3312698022099272

in this still image you can see Robben Ford using his Epiphone 1966 Riviera.

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his Blonde 1960 Fender Telecaster: "But the Tele has also become very important. It’s a 1960. I’m not very familiar with the world of the Tele – this is the only one I’ve ever owned. I think I probably picked it up because it’s the same model that Bloomfield played on the first Butterfield Blues Band record. Once I checked it out, I had to buy it, and it’s become big for me. I got it when I was with the Blue Line and used it for the first time on the Mystic Mile record."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford answers the following question about his about his Fender Duo-Sonic. Q: "It seems odd that you’d own a Fender Duo-Sonic." A:"There were times when I felt like having something kind of small would make it easier to play in a certain way, particularly in a jazz context. Also, John McLaughlin used one of those guitars on [Miles Davis’] In A Silent Way and when he was with Tony Williams Lifetime. And they have wonderful pickups in them; they sound really good. But ultimately, the bridge leaves a lot to be desired, and makes the guitar pretty unplayable."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop: Q: "And you’ve got a couple of Les Pauls." A:"I have a ’55 that I’ve used a bit, like on “In The Beginning” and “I Can’t Stand The Rain” [Tiger Walk]. The variety of tones that come out of that guitar on that song is amazing. Really colorful instrument. I also have a ’57 goldtop that Larry Carlton gave me on long-term loan. It’s an amazing guitar."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop: Q: "And you’ve got a couple of Les Pauls." A:"I have a ’55 that I’ve used a bit, like on “In The Beginning” and “I Can’t Stand The Rain” [Tiger Walk]. The variety of tones that come out of that guitar on that song is amazing. Really colorful instrument. I also have a ’57 goldtop that Larry Carlton gave me on long-term loan. It’s an amazing guitar."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his 1963 Gibson ES-355: "I also have a ’63 355, but a 335 has a bigger tone. It’s a better-sounding guitar. A 355 is very specific and has that honky, midrangey thing. Because it’s got all that hardware and machinery in it, the guitar isn’t able to resonate like a 335 – at least that’s what I would say. I fell in love with the 355 just visually, when I was 12 years old, and I always wanted one. I finally got one, but the only place I was ever able to use it was when I was out with Phil Lesh. To me, the 355 is the most beautiful-looking electric guitar ever made."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his 1958 Fender Stratocaster: "Everybody was playing Strats in the ’80s, and it was a good recording guitar, a good rhythm guitar. That’s why I even started fooling around with one – more for accompaniment. But I finally sold my ’58 dot-neck 335, and bought a ’58 Strat, tobaccoburst. That’s what I played with Miles Davis and later David Sanborn and my own gigs to some extent."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his Gibson L-5: "I bought the Gibson L-5 I used with Charlie and the Ford Band just because I wanted a jazz guitar. My mother co-signed a loan for me, and I got it at Sherman & Clay, in San Francisco. It was brand-spanking new, and it was never a great guitar. Somehow while I was working with Spoon, I kind of figured that out, and I wanted something else."

In this Vintage Guitar Magazine article, Robben Ford says this about his Guild Starfire III: "My first real good electric was a Guild Starfire III with a single sharp cutaway."